Bristol City Council to consider diesel car ban

Bristol City Council is to consider banning diesel cars from entering a specific central area for part of the day, as part of plans to improve air quality.

The council’s cabinet is due to meet next week (18 June) to discuss two options, which will allow the local authority to meet central government-set targets for air quality improvement

One option is to ban all diesel cars are from entering a specific central area in the city between 7am and 3pm.

The other option is to introduce a clean air zone with a targeted diesel ban on the highway past the Bristol Royal Infirmary and a charging scheme for polluting buses, taxis, light goods and heavy goods vehicles.

Residents will be able to give their views on the two options as part of a six-week public consultation launching on 1 July.

‘These latest proposals could strike the right balance by targeting the most polluting vehicles within specific classes of vehicle and by considering a dedicated area outside our central Bristol hospitals including the children’s hospital, where we want to protect those most vulnerable to pollution,’ said Bristol mayor, Marvin Rees.

‘These options will allow us to meet government air quality improvement targets, but we must and will do more to improve the air quality in our city for all citizens. I look forward to sharing a wider environmental plan soon, where we will commit to working in partnership with city partners for the benefit of all.’